Objective: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy and potential mechanisms of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to preliminarily identify the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome element characteristics of FMT in the treatment of T2DM. Methods: Between March 25, 2023 and September 30, 2024, T2DM patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled at the Department of Rheumatology and Endocrinology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Participants received oral microbiota capsules as an adjunct to metformin therapy. Information obtained by four diagnostic methods of TCM, along with clinical and laboratory parameters, was collected before and after the intervention. Metagenomic sequencing was employed to analyze the gut microbiota, and Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between laboratory indicators and differential bacterial genera. According to the post-treatment reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), patients were categorized into a response (R) group and a non-response (NR) group. Treatment outcomes, safety indicators, gut microbiota changes, and TCM syndrome element features were compared between the two groups. Results: A total of 53 T2DM patients were included in the final analysis, and 30 patients were assigned to R group and 23 to NR group. After treatment, the R group exhibited significant reductions in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and 2-hour postprandial glucose (2hPG) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The NR group also showed significant decreases in HbA1c and FPG levels P < 0.01 or P < 0.05. Compared with the NR group, after treatment, FPG level in the R group demonstrated significant reductions (P < 0.01). As compared with before treatment, pancreatic islet function demonstrated enhancement in the R group, a significant increase in the 2-hour pastprandial C-peptide (2hC-P) levels in R group (P < 0.05), whereas no marked change was observed in the NR group. Regarding body composition indicators, the R group showed significantly lower waist-hip ratio (WHR), visceral fat (VF), and subcutaneous fat (SF) levels compared with the NR group (P < 0.01). After treatment, the NR group exhibited a significant elevation in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (P < 0.05). Other safety-related indicators fluctuated within normal reference ranges, and no other adverse events, such as diarrhea, fever, or nausea, were reported. Metagenomic sequencing showed that FMT improved the diversity and richness of the gut microbiota, remodeling its overall structure. At the phylum level, the abundance of p_Firmicutes decreased significantly (P < 0.01), while the abundances of p_Bacteroidota and p_Proteobacteria increased significantly (P < 0.01). At the family level, among the 125 identified taxa, the abundances of f_Bacteroidaceae, f_Lactobacillaceae, and f_Sutterellaceae were significantly elevated, whereas six families, including f_Lachnospiraceae, f_Ruminococcaceae, and f_Coriobacteriaceae, were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). Among the 367 taxa at the genus level, the top 10 differential genera showed significantly increased abundances of g_Bacteroides and g_Sutterella, and significantly decreased abundances in eight genera, including g_Faecalibacterium, g_Ruminococcus, g_Blautia, and g_Collinsella (all P < 0.05). Correlation analysis suggested that the phylum p_Bacillota was positively correlated with improvements in T2DM laboratory parameters, g_norank_f_Prevotellaceae was significantly positively correlated with fasting C-peptide (FC-P) and 2hC-P (P < 0.05). HbA1c demonstrated a significantly positive correlation with g_Blautia and g_Gemmiger (P < 0.05) and a significantly negative correlation with g_Bacteroides and g_Collinsella (P > 0.05). Analysis of syndrome element characteristics revealed that the R group was primarily characterized by pathological patterns of dampness, phlegm, and Yang deficiency. Before treatment, statistically significant reductions in syndrome element scores were observed for dampness, Yang deficiency, spleen, phlegm, Qi deficiency, Qi stagnation, and Yin deficiency (P < 0.01), as well as for heat and liver (P < 0.05). The NR group was mainly featured with Qi deficiency and Yin deficiency. Statistically significant changes in their syndrome element scores after treatment were noted for Qi deficiency (P < 0.01), and for spleen, Qi stagnation, liver, and blood deficiency (P < 0.05). In this group, the score changes for Yang deficiency, Yin deficiency, heat, and dampness were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion The principles of syndrome element differentiation can be effectively applied to predict treatment efficacy and facilitate patient selection for FMT in the treatment of T2DM. Patients with T2DM presented with specific TCM syndrome element characteristics, notably dampness, phlegm, and Yang deficiency, represent a highly responsive population to FMT therapy.

This study investigated the infectious status and pathogen characteristics of Leptospira in rodents and the environment in Fujian province to provide data for the prevention and control of leptospirosis.A total of 723 rodents and 31 water samples were col-lected from 19 regions in Fujian Province during 2020-2023.The prevalent rodent species was Rattus losea(35.82%,259/723),which was followed by Rattus norvegicus(20.06%,145/723),Rattus tanezumi(19.64%,142/723),and Niviventer fulvescens(13.97%,101/723).A total of 144 positive samples of Leptospira spp.were detected in rodent kidney samples,accounting for 19.92%(144/723).The positivity rate of Leptospira spp.in wild rodents was higher than that in domestic rodents(χ2=8.48,P<0.05),and the positivity rate in adult rodents was higher than that in juvenile rodents(χ2=14.19,P<0.05).The positivity rates varied among rodent species(χ2=46.11,P<0.05),and differences in the positivity rates of Leptospira spp.were observed among regions(χ2=32.113,P<0.05).Ten strains were isolated from 440 rodent samples,and the isolation rate was 2.27%(10/440).Genospecies identification indi-cated that Leptospira borgpetersenii accounted for seven of the ten isolates,and L.interrogans accounted for three.MLST typing divided 10 isolates into three ST types:ST1,ST16,and ST143.5 isolates were isolated from 31 water samples,with an isolation rate of 16.13%,all of which were nonpathogenic L.tsangambouensis.Although pathogenic Leptospira spp.were not isolated from the water samples,the rodents in Fujian Province were generally infected with pathogenic Leptospira spp.Surveillance of the environment and ro-dents infected with Leptospira spp.should be strengthened.

This study investigated the infectious status and pathogen characteristics of Leptospira in rodents and the environment in Fujian province to provide data for the prevention and control of leptospirosis.A total of 723 rodents and 31 water samples were col-lected from 19 regions in Fujian Province during 2020-2023.The prevalent rodent species was Rattus losea(35.82%,259/723),which was followed by Rattus norvegicus(20.06%,145/723),Rattus tanezumi(19.64%,142/723),and Niviventer fulvescens(13.97%,101/723).A total of 144 positive samples of Leptospira spp.were detected in rodent kidney samples,accounting for 19.92%(144/723).The positivity rate of Leptospira spp.in wild rodents was higher than that in domestic rodents(χ2=8.48,P<0.05),and the positivity rate in adult rodents was higher than that in juvenile rodents(χ2=14.19,P<0.05).The positivity rates varied among rodent species(χ2=46.11,P<0.05),and differences in the positivity rates of Leptospira spp.were observed among regions(χ2=32.113,P<0.05).Ten strains were isolated from 440 rodent samples,and the isolation rate was 2.27%(10/440).Genospecies identification indi-cated that Leptospira borgpetersenii accounted for seven of the ten isolates,and L.interrogans accounted for three.MLST typing divided 10 isolates into three ST types:ST1,ST16,and ST143.5 isolates were isolated from 31 water samples,with an isolation rate of 16.13%,all of which were nonpathogenic L.tsangambouensis.Although pathogenic Leptospira spp.were not isolated from the water samples,the rodents in Fujian Province were generally infected with pathogenic Leptospira spp.Surveillance of the environment and ro-dents infected with Leptospira spp.should be strengthened.

Objective:To develop a laparoscopic surgery flushing waste liquid collection device,to collect a large amount of waste liquid generated when flushing fluid was used in urological laparoscopic surgery.Methods:The structure of the laparoscopic surgical flushing waste collection device was composed of a lifting mechanism,a liquid waste collector and a liquid waste discharger.The height of the waste liquid collector can be adjusted by changing the height of the lifting mechanism to suit the body position of the patient and the needs of the surgeon.The waste liquid generated during the operation can be led to the waste liquid collection tank through the collection trough,and then the waste liquid is discharged to the non-operative area container through the discharge tube.A total of 80 patients who underwent transurethral resection of prostate in the operating room of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University from June 2022 to December 2022 were selected and divided into observation group and control group by random number table method,with 40 cases in each group.In the observation group,a brain protective film with an open bottom was used to collect the waste fluid and specimens in combination with the laparoscopic surgical flushing waste collection device.In the control group,samples were collected by knotting and perforating the lower end of brain protective membrane and waste fluid was collected by ordinary bucket.The incidence of intraoperative flushing fluid contamination of the ground environment and the time taken for waste fluid to be drawn out of the surgical area were compared between the two groups,and the intraoperative specimen collection rate was calculated.Results:The total incidence of overflow of flushing waste fluid and contamination of the ground environment in the observation group was 7.5%,which was significantly lower than that of the control group(27.5%),the difference was statistically significant(x2=6.135,P<0.05).The operation time of observation group was better than that of control group,the difference was statistically significant(t=7.966,P<0.001).The collection rate of surgical specimens in the observation group was higher than that in the control group,the difference was statistically significant(x2=6.135,P<0.05).Conclusion:The laparoscopic surgery waste liquid collection device can meet the requirements of surgical waste liquid collection,which simple to operate,time-saving and labor-saving,can reduce the environmental pollution of the surgical ground,and improve the collection rate of surgical specimens.

Objective:To explore the relationship between microsatellite instability (MSI) and Ki-67 expression level and the clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer, and investigate their impact for prognosis, so as to provide reference for prognostic judgment of colorectal cancer.Methods:The data of 183 patients who underwent radical colorectal cancer surgery and were diagnosed pathologically in the Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from January 2017 to December 2019 were retrospectively analysed, including 101 males (55.2%)and 82 females(44.8%), ranged from 20 to 86 years and the mean age was(60.27±13.13)years. According to the results of mismatch repair protein immunohistochemical staining, the patients were divided into MSI-H group ( n=32) and MSI-L/MSS group ( n=151). According to the results of Ki-67 antigen immunohistochemical staining, the patients were divided into low Ki-67 expression group (<82.5%, n=136) and high Ki-67 expression group (≥82.5%, n=47) , among which 62 cases (78.5%) with low Ki-67 expression and 17 cases (21.5%) with high Ki-67 expression were in patients with Ⅲ+ Ⅳ stage colorectal cancer. The data of clinicopathological features, disease-free survival, and overall survival were collected and analyzed. The cotegorical variables were presented as n(%), and the comparisons between groups were performed using Chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test. The multivariate Logistic regression model was used to estimate the correlation between microsatellite instability and Ki-67 expression level and clinicopathologic characteristics of colorectal cancer. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and COX proportional hazards regression model were used to analyze the correlation between microsatellite instability and Ki-67 expression level and disease-free survival and overall survival. Results:Single factor analysis showed that the differences in gender ( χ2=4.37, P=0.037), tumor site ( χ2=26.40, P<0.001), tumor maximum diameter ( χ2=11.12, P=0.001) and nerve invasion ( χ2=5.53, P=0.019) between MSI-H group and MSI-L/MSS group were statistically significant. Multivariate Logistic regression model analysis showed that only gender ( OR=3.013, 95% CI: 1.183-7.672, P=0.021), tumor location ( OR=0.167, 95% CI: 0.067-0.419, P<0.001) and nerve invasion ( OR=0.202, 95% CI: 0.042-0.968, P=0.045) were independently correlative factors for MSI status. In Ⅲ+ Ⅳ stage colorectal cancers, the difference in tumor site between low Ki-67 expression group and high Ki-67 expression group was statistically significant( χ2=3.91, P=0.048). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis revealed that high Ki-67 expression ( HR=0.301, 95% CI: 0.118-0.768, P=0.012; HR=0.275, 95% CI: 0.083-0.912, P=0.035) and MSI-H ( HR=0.072, 95% CI: 0.010-0.525, P=0.009; HR=0.122, 95% CI: 0.017-0.900, P=0.039) were independently protective factors for disease-free survival and overall survival. Conclusions:MSI-H colorectal cancer is common in males, right-sided colonic cancers and non-neuroinvasive patients. In stage Ⅲ+ Ⅳ colorectal cancer, the expression level of Ki-67 in right-sided colonic cancer was lower than in left-sided colorectal cancer. Patients with MSI-H and high Ki-67 expressive colorectal cancer had longer disease-free survival, longer overall survival and better prognosis.

Objective:To establish the biology reference interval (RI) of peripheral blood procalcitonin (PCT) for children between 3 days and 6 years old in China.Methods:Totally 3 353 reference individuals with apparent health or no specific diseases were recruited in 18 hospitals throughout the country during October 2020 to May 2021. Reference individuals were divided into four groups: 3-28 days, 29 days - 1 year, 1-3 years and 4-6 years. Vein blood or capillary blood were collected by percutaneous puncture from every reference individual. The PCT level in serum and the capillary whole blood were assayed by Roche Cobas e601 and Norman NRM411-S7 immunoanalyzer. Outliers were deleted and 95th percentiles of every group were provided as RIs. Man-Whitney U test or Kruskal-Wallis test were used performed to assess the difference among different gender, age or method groups. Results:The difference of PCT distribution between male and female is not statistically significant, but the difference between serum and capillary whole blood is statistically significant. The differences between age groups are significant too. For Roche e601, serum PCT RI of 3-28 days group is <0.23 μg/L, 29 days - 6 years are <0.11 μg/L. For NRM411, Serum PCT RI of 3-28 days group is <0.21 μg/L, 29 days - 1 year: <0.09 μg/L, 1 - 6 years: <0.10 μg/L. For whole blood PCT, RI of 3-28 days group is <0.26 μg/L, 29 days - 6 years is <0.15 μg/L.Conclusions:Serum and capillary whole blood PCT have different RIs, however, capillary whole blood PCT testing is valuable in pediatric application. Children in 3-28 days show higher PCT levels than other age group. To establish the RIs and understand the differences among different groups are essential for the interpretation and clinical application of peripheral blood PCT testing results.

Objective: To study the expression of Wnt2b protein and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition related markers in tissues of carcinoma of bile duct and normal bile duct to determine the clinical significance. The relationships between the expression levels and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed, and the correlation between Wnt2b and epithelial interstitial transformation (EMT), tumor invasion and metastasis were studied. Methods: A total of 60 patients with cholangiocarcinoma and 30 patients with normal bile duct tissues admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from December 2008 to December 2013 were studied. The expressions of Wnt2b, E-cadherin and Vimentin protein were detected by SP immunohistochemical staining. The patients were classified according to the expressions of these proteins. Analyses were conducted on the relationships of these proteins with clinical characteristics of the patients with cholangiocarcinoma. Results: The positive expression rate of Wnt2b protein in carcinoma of bile duct tissues was 90.0%, which was significantly higher than that in normal bile duct tissues (χ²=38.1, P<0.05). The positive expression rate of Wnt2b in T₃ + T₄ was significantly higher than that in T₁ + T₂ (P<0.05). There were no correlations of the expression with patients’ age, gender, tumor location and degree of tumor differentiation (P>0.05). Patients with lymph node metastasis had a significantly higher positive expression of Vimentin than patients with no lymph node metastasis, and the loss of E-cadherin expression was increased (all P<0.05). There were no relationship of the expressions of these proteins with patients’ age, gender, tumor location and degree of tumor differentiation (P>0.05). The increased expression of Wnt2b in bile duct cancer cells was related to increase in EMT marker of the positive expression of vimentin and the loss of E-cadherin expression (both P<0.05). Conclusions Wnt2b protein overexpression in cholangiocarcinoma correlated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition related markers. The Wnt2b protein was correlated with cholangiocarcinoma occurrence, development, invasion and metastasis. Wnt2b has the potential to develop into a new therapeutic target for carcinoma of bile duct.

BACKGROUNDLymphocyte function and homeostasis is associated with immune defence to infection. Apoptosis of lymphocytes might be a considerably important component which has an impact on immunity to infections in people with hyperglycemia. The aim of this study was to explore the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway of lymphocyte in diabetic patients.

METHODSSixty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and fifty healthy volunteers were included in this study. Annexin V and propidiumiodide (PI) were joined in the isolated lymphocytes and the rate of lymphocyte apoptosis was calculated with flow cytometry. Observation of the lymphocytes was done using transmission electron microscopy; mitochondria had been extracted and then mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was detected to assess mitochondrial function; the mRNA level of Bcl-2, cytochrome c (Cyt-C), caspase-9 and caspase-3 were analyzed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSApoptosis rate of lymphocyte was significantly higher in diabetic group than that in normal control group (P < 0.05). Transmission electron microscopy showed lymphocyte shrinkage and breakage, chromatin condensation and less mitochondria; a fall in MMP levels was also evident; Bcl-2 concentration was reduced and the expressions of caspase-9, caspase-3 and Cyt-C were elevated (P < 0.05) in diabetic patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe rate of lymphocyte apoptosis was significantly higher in type 2 diabetic patients than that in normal population. Mitochondrial apoptosis pathway may play a very important role in decreasing function of lymphocyte in diabetes.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; Caspase 9 ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics

ed in vitro and in vivo,which was inhibited by aspirin treatment.